The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-21
WASHINGTON LETTER
n our Regular Correspondent ]


WAsHINeToN. d. c., Oct Is, 1887.
OF the many annual reports now be-
ing prepared in the several Federal De
partments, perhaps none are of such
general interest as is that of Commits
sioner Sparks, of the General Land
Office, which has just been submitted
to the Secretary of the Interior, and
which speaks more than mere platform
platitudes of the sincere desire of the
Democrats to redeem their pledges to
reclaim and restore to the people the
public domain of which Republican
rapacity and venality have wrongfully
deprived them. These vast funds are
not confined to any particular locality
but impartially and unblushingly pene.
trate and permeate every State and
Territory of the Union, which shall for
many years to come emblazon on the
pages of our country's history the deg
radiation and intamy of the most cor
rupt party of the century.
The report in question shows that
since March 4, 1885, 31,824,48l acres
have been reclaimed and thrown open
to honest settlers. The investigation
of land entries discloses the startling
result that 2,312 cases covering $780,
900 acres were condemned to cancella-
ton and 2,153 entries, covering about
10000 acres were cancelled for fraud,
pure and simple. Added to this crowd
ed catalogue of crime-its browning
climax-more than five thousand cases
have been unearthed wherein perjury
or subornation Of perjury has been
committed in land transactions.
The reports of several of the bureau
officsrs-especially those of the Land
Office and the Pension Office, call for
an increase in their clerical force-it
appearing that these two grand dvis-
ions of the public service are outstrip.
ping in rapid and substantial growth
all of the others-with the possible OK.
ception of the extension of the mail
service throughout the country.
Considering the number of important
and interesting cases to be adjudicated
the October term of the Supreme Cour,
of the United States promises to be Of
extraordinary interest. First in mag
nitude is the trial of the Virginia State
officials imprisoned by United States
Judge Bond tor alleged contempt Of
court in the celebrated ''coupon crush
er" cases, as this unheard of proceed
ing involves a grave constitutions
question in regard to the relation oi
the State and National Governments
Then there are the famous Bell tele
phone cases, the case of the Prellal
murder at st. Louis-with a strong
probability that the fate of the Chicago
anarchists will also be decided.
Among the bills to be introduced il
Congress next session will be seven OF
pension Legislation, prepared under thu
auspices of the Grand Army of tn,
Republic, with the purpose of provid
ing aid for all soldiers who saw actua
service. But if Congress should b,
weak enough to sanction such whole
sale raid on the Treasury, Presiden
Cleveland will again stand like ston,
wall between that body OF deslgnin.
pollticians--with a few honorable ex
ceptions-and the coveted Golfers of
great and generous people.
Another measure that comes nea
the people will be the introduction o
a bill providing for the licensing O
railway engineers and conductors-th
object being to obtain for such servic
careful, temperate, and experience
men and thus secure the safety of tn
passengers.
In this connection may say that
is highly probable that Congress wi
abolish Kerosene lamps and hea,in
stoves on all railroads-replacing thes
death dealing agencies with electricit
and steaming apparatus, attached
the locomotive.
The citizens of the National Capits
are making an earnest effort to hav
the next National Democratic ConveI
tion meet in this city. The initiatiy
was taken by the Columbia Democrat
Club in behalf of Washington, an
the whole city is seconding their el
desvor as a public meeting will 500
be called to consider the undertaken,
The chief obstacle to be overcome
the fact that the city has no hall larg
enough to accommodate the conveI
ton but it is proposed to obviase thi
hinoerance by the erection of lare
temporary structure for the purpos
Another essential part of the progra
will be the dining and wining an
lionizing of the National Democrat
Committee when that body meets hel
next winter.